Saif Saaeed Shaheen/Stephen Cherono vs. Kenenisa Bekele NEXT MONTH!!!

I don't think it was the Kenyan federation he was talking about, since he was talking about the strong team he would be running for. I am guessing Quatar wants to get some publicity from this team of ringers they purchased. Don't know why they think World XC would gain them more than World Indoor, but nobody asks me for my opinion.

As far as chalenging Kenenisa, I have seen conflicting statements as to which/both races he will run. And remember, Shaheen outkicked ElG in a 5k, something Kenenisa could not do at the WCs. I realize this is XC, not track, but I have yet to see anyone outkick Shaheen.

I also was under the impression that he was speaking of a strong team for Qatar. It's not uncommon for "foreigners" to run at the Kenyan XC trials. In "Train Hard, Win Easy", Tanser talks about Annamarie Sandel (sp?) running in the Kenyan team trials.

I'm pretty sure that he and hassan (chepkurui) will be running world XC for quatar. since XC is an event governed by the iaaf, and not the IOC, they're clear to go - have been since last summer. olympics might be a different story, but i'm guessing that new tartan track coming to eldoret will grease that wheel too. as for his running at the kenya champs - foreigners are more than welcome to enter, and are eligible for the prize money. i think deiter bauman ran a few years ago, and i've seen a couple of other europeans run the 4k there.

Hi this is Kenny B.. yours truly.

I will light my farts as a blaze past him.. and i will burn him.. like the little witch that he is...

i will send him back to quatar.. where he belongs.. a country full of fat blobs...that sit around and sip tea wearing dresses and burkas..

F quatar.. VIVA>>> AFFRIKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Of course Stephen speaks about Qatar team. For WCCCh, Qatar will be present in both the races, with two strong teams. During next days, some other athlete will change citizenship, and also if is not of top level in Kenya, can be in top 30 in both the races during World Cross. So, with Shaheen, Hassan and two other good runners, the team can compete for a position between 3rd and 5th in short. Only after short we can decide if Shaheen can double (of sure Hassan runs both the races), and with him can double two other athletes (their names can become known during the next two weeks). You must remember that, in any case, Qatar has already Khamis Saifeldin (8:11 on steeple) and two other guys of 13:30 last year, more an athlete able running 28:02 last season.

Regarding the race in Nairobi, from long time National Championships in Kenya are an open international race, permitted to athletes of other countries. The choice of 12 km is due to the need of controlling the level of endurance, nothing else.

Regarding Bruxelles, the real problem is the condition of the course. If is dry, Shaheen can also look at a medal, but if is muddy, a position in top ten could already be good.

In any case, before WCCCh Shaheen will test his attitude in short distance during World Military Ch in Lebanon (3rd of March), running short distance of 5 km.

By his own admission, S Cherno a) doesn't have track-record of running XC let alone winning a race b) his main interest supposedly is running for Quatar and get some publicity for the adopting country.

As for challenging Bekele, again he adimited that he had no leg muscle (strength) to work through the mud etc as Bekele and others have. The best he can do is to through a challenge to Bekele so that his win once again might not be an easy one like in the past.

i have seen cherono ran 4k in eldoret kenya...which he won easily.....lets wait and see

Cherono is a much better runner now than in 1999. Although he is a skinny dude, he seems to do fine in the steeple and Tergat was skinnier than Cherono, and he could rip it up in cross. Cherono is 21 not 16 now, so I think he'll be stronger for cross.

He just knows how to win, he smoked El G down the stretch in the Ostrava 5k, and then won all his steeples regardless of how close they were. He just finds a way to get the job done.

What the hell, might as well throw out a prediction sbout Cherono now. He's my pick to win the short course at world XC this year, even if Bekele runs. And I think Chebeii is the guy with the best chance of crashing the party. Followed by fellow Kenyans, Ben Limo, John Kibowen and Sammy Kipketer, who are all threats too. Bekele has to get beat sometime and Cherono looks the best chance.

I think that if Bekele runs he will win (but it will be a race to watch).

I thought everyone would have learned by now that psychological strategy is back! The top runners are picking up where Said Aouita left off, "Oh I don't have experience, I am hurt, I won't run both races, I am not as strong as he is...." Kenenisa Bekele restarted it in full drive after his first double at World X-Country and still doing it today and now Saif Saaeed, believe me if he didn't think he could win he wouldn't run at the WORLDS! The thing is I think Kenenisa could beat him if he only ran the short course; however, to tangle with Saif Saaeed and then face Abraham Chebii, his fellow Ethopians, and the Kenyan contingent the next day is a monsterous task. I think Kenenisa could double because the 12k is his, but if he lose at the Worlds the only person I think stand a chance is Saif-because Bekele will try and save something for the 12K (which is more prestigous).

Vipam

Oh yeah don't let his skinny legs fool you. Last year in 2003 he showed the strength of his legs twice(at the Worlds and a big Gp meet)-hurdling the barrier in front of the water pit and landing with less than one foot of clearing the pit on the LAST lap and then kicked an elite Kenyan down both times. Saif isn't concern about the strength of his skinny legs-he knows their strong.

Vipam

Vipam. It appears that you have a psychological disorder that inhibits your ability to admit error. You have presented a post containing the following statement:

The reason he will run the x-country and not World Indoors is because Kenyan asked him to run X-country!?! I know that the Kenyan Federation is attempting to block him from competing for Quatar for the alloted 3 years;

You have not presented this as a question, but as a statement of fact. You have been set straight in your errant thinking by several including the reknowed Renato himself, yet you return with another of your quasi-pedantic postsulates in which you insult the others on this board and vaunt your own faulty theories of the obvious:

"I thought you all would know by now"

I thought that you, by now, would be able to thank those who have lovingly corrected your errors. It is my professional recommendation that you take a 6 week hiatus from posting and begin all further posts with the disclaimer:

"I know I have been in grave error with my past assertions."

The fact of the matter is that you tried to create a post that displayed your knowledge of a brewing controverssy that isn't there. You were corrected, yet you have only lobbed another of your innane theories at your correctors. Son, get over yourself, stop puffing on that cigar, and go occupy yourself with a copy of Oedipus Rex until after World Cross.

Best wishes, and consider this analysis complimentary and part of my ongoing public service.

Herr Freud

Vipam. We are still waiting for you to admit that you are/were wrong about the Shaheen situation. Are you capable of such an admission or will a forcible intervention be required. So what that my show is gone and that I'm out of style; you're wrong, and that's worse.

Kenya isn't trying to stop Shaheen, there is no controversy, and we're still waiting for your admission. Bush has admitted that the weapons haven't been found; Janet has acknowledged that it was more than a "wardrobe malfunction;" can you admit that you were incorrect and overzealous in your post?

I bet not.

Cheers,

Dr. Laura

Dr. Wannable Freud

The statement, "I thought you all would...." was pertaining to Saif stating his legs are skinny and not condusive for X-country. By the way Dr. Wannabe Freud and Dr. Wannabe Laura?

I have no problem in admitting that I was wrong and after some other posters pointed that out, I appreciate them. Next you sir/maam (same person) don't have to post twice just to get me to admit I was wrong about something some trivial. The Kenyan federation HAS already filed an inquiry as to how Saif ran at 2003 Worlds; however, I was wrong about him possibly returning to the Kenyan squad.

Vipam